Improvement in whiffletrees



" Wpv. WALLACE.

Whiffletreef No. 216,069. Patented Jungs-,1879.

suiza-exim UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIcE.

WILLIAM V. WALLACE, OF DOBSET, VERMONT, ASSIGNOB TO AUGUSTINE B. ARMSTRONG, OF SAME PLAGE.

IMPROVEMENT IN WHIFFLETREES.V

Specification `forming part of Letters Patent No. 216,069, dated June 3, 1879 application filed May 2, 1878.

of Vermont, have invented a new and useful Improvement in VVhiftletrees, which improvement is fully set forth in the following speciiication and accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a sectional view of the method of applying my invention, Figs. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7,8, and 9 being modifications of the same principle.

The object of my invention is to secure a method of attaching a horse or horses to a vehicle in a manner to avoid the usual shock or dead-pull at starting, as well as to ease the rigid position of the breast-collar, thereby lessening its liability to chafe, and by the spring movement starting a load much easier, also avoiding strain and breakage, and consequent accidents, when a horse, from fear or other causes, suddenly plunges forward, securing at the same time greater ease for the horse and driver.

By this method the horse is relieved from the conti nuous and exhaustive jar when drawing, especially over rough and stony roads, and will perform an increased amount of labor at a reduced expenditure of physical force. Economy is also secured in the diminished wear of harness and wagons by the avoidance of the constant jerking and straining.

In the drawings, Fig. l, A is the iuclosingtube, with its front end pierced in the center to admit the drawbar B. The cap C is rmly secured -to the end of the draw-bar, and-rests upon spring d, which is adjusted to a suitable tension.

Within the spiral spring d, and around thel bar B, is placed a rubber cushion, c, which resists the pressure of the cap C before the spiral closes, making an elastic rest, and thus obviating breakage of the spiral spring. f is the hook to which. the traces are attached.

The screw-shank g should bear at its outward point toward the hook, so that when it is screwed into the end of the whifiietree, in the ordinary Way, it will give the right drawin g-line to rod B.

The spring may be made entirely of rubber, as shown in Fig. 2, a a being sections of rubber tubing surrounding the draw-bar, and separated by movable metallic washers b b, which admit of independent action by each section of rubber, and prevents" their being forced out of place and impedin g the action ot' each other, as is the case without the washers.

I have also tried a corrugated cylinder and a round rubber tube, a smooth cylinder and a corrugated rubber tube, and have adj usted the sprin g movement to the center of the whifiietree and cross-bar, as shown in FignB, a being a section of the cross-bar; b', the whifdetree; e, rubber cushion 5 d', bolt 5 c', metallic guard, sustaining each end of bolt.

I also have tried an elastic attachment of the tug-buckles to the breast-collar, but nd the method shown in Fig. l to be best adapted to the object required.

Reference is also made to the modifications of this principle shown in `Figs. 4, 5, 6, 7, S, and 9.

To the hook which is now rigidly attached to the ends of horse-cars,` onto which the crossbar `of the whifi'letrees or the pole is adjusted, I also apply this method.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The inclosing-tube A, provided with the screw-shank g, draw-bar B, cap C, spring d, cushion e, and hook f, when adapted to form an elastic connection of horses to vehicles, substantially as shown and specied.

WM. V. `VALLACE.

Witnesses F. M. BUTLER, S. E. CARPENTER. 

